the
Volume 8 | Issue 12
EYE ON THE
DECEMBER 2017
market
The market has begun to slow, but this time of year can offer opportunity for those who choose to remain engaged. Buyers may experience less competition and have more time to research properties and strategize. Sellers who choose to list their home during this time of year may find that their home (if in good condition and priced properly) receives more attention and consideration. The latest statistics from the Northwest MLS show closed-sales prices for singlefamily homes in King County are up yearover-year by 14.55 percent, in Snohomish County by 13.81 percent and in Pierce County by 12.52 percent. Multiple offer situations remain a part of most transactions, but brokers are reporting fewer offers on the table per transaction. This year has been exciting and historic in many ways, but it would seem the coming year will continue to amaze.
LOCAL 2018 Market Outlook: Proposed changes might reduce the number of home transactions that qualify for the mortgage interest deduction. With most homes selling in King County for more than half a million dollars in 2017, this means many buyers may not qualify for the deduction. Will sellers elect to not list their home for sale because they’ll lose their current deduction? The Federal Reserve is expected to raise rates in the near future, and there will be a new chair appointed as its leader. What moves will the new head of the Fed make, and when? And will home buyers be able to absorb a rate increase, or will they act more cautiously? Lastly, the announcement of Amazon’s HQ2 is expected in 2018. If they choose a location close to home will there be an influx of additional high-wage earners that may continue to fuel the trend of higher home prices? Or, if the location is elsewhere, will that cause an exodus that will make a dent in our current housing market and provide some relief? Stay tuned!
TIPS FOR GREEN HOLIDAY
entertaining
A few tips to help you “go green” this holiday season: Stocking up—Buying in bulk in bigger Cooking—Support our community farms! containers helps to cut down on packBuy organic when you can, and visit your aging and reduce the number of trips local farms to get produce, meats and to the store to restock these items. dairy products. Many farms offer fresh items year-round, and you Decorating—Many of your might even discover a new guests will eventually come favorite. Ask for recipes and to the kitchen to hang out, so preparation tips if you’re trying to really get into the holiday something new. spirit, decorate your kitchen as well. For the kitchen (and Serving—Use cloth or compostall over the house), string LED able napkins, and invest in an lights, which use less energy. inexpensive set of flatware that Pinecones, evergreen branches and can be reused next year. Better yet, if boughs of holly you’ve collected from your event is casual, check your local your yard also make festive holiday vintage store for flatware and glassware decorations and don’t require any sets or individual pieces that meet your energy usage. entertaining needs. (continued on next page)
happenings
11/24-1/1 WinterFest at Seattle Center | seattlecenter.com
12/1 Great Figgy Pudding Caroling Competition pikemarketseniorcenter.org 12/1-12/2 2017 Winter Beer Fest washingtonbrewersguild.org 12/1-12/3 A Victorian Country Christmas
avictoriancountrychristmas.com
12/1-12/23 Issaquah Reindeer Festival cougarmountainzoo.org 12/1-12/24 Snowflake Lane snowflakelane.com
12/1-12/30 The Lights of Christmas thelightsofchristmas.com 12/1-12/31 Garden d’Lights at the Bellevue Botanical Garden gardendlights.org 12/1-12/31 Holiday Show at Schack Art Center | schack.org
12/1-1/1 Gingerbread Village sheratonseattle.com/gingerbread-village 12/1-1/1 WildLights at Woodland Park Zoo | zoo.org 12/1-1/1 ZooLights at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium | pdza.org 12/1-12/24 Live Reindeer at Country Village countryvillagebothell.com 12/2 Fall City Holiday Market fallcity.org 12/2 Julefest poulsbosonsofnorway.com 12/2 Redmond Lights redmondlights.com (events continued on next page)
December
December Football
IMPORTANT DATES
Tuesday, December 12 Hanukkah begins at sundown Thursday, December 21 Winter begins Monday, December 25 Christmas Day Counties are closed
SUN 12/3
Tuesday, December 26 Kwanzaa begins Sunday, December 31 New Year’s Eve
BEGIN A HOLIDAY
tradition
• Plan a cookie-baking party. Each
GREEN HOLIDAY
SUN 12/10 10:00 AM @ Jaguars
FOX
SUN 12/17 1:05 PM
vs. Rams
FOX
SUN 12/24 1:25 PM
@ Cowboys
FOX
SUN 12/31 1:25 PM
vs. Cardinals FOX
happenings (CONTINUED)
12/2 Lynnwood - Christmas Tree Lighting silvercreekfamily.org 12/2 Mill Creek Santa Parade & Tree Lighting | cityofmillcreek.com 12/2 Santa Arrival &Tree Lighting countryvillagebothell.com 12/2-12/17 Santa Train trainmuseum.org
• Local, reputable organizations know of families who need your help, especially during this time of year. Once you have selected a particular family to adopt, tell your friends and family about their needs, and offer the opportunity for them to help if they so wish. You might just be surprised by the outpouring of generosity. • Call your favorite friend with children, and offer to babysit one evening so they can run errands. We all know this is an extremely busy time of year, and everyone can use a helping hand.
entertaining
12/3 K-9 Candy Cane 5K runsignup.com 12/3-12/30 The Lights of Christmas thelightsofchristmas.com 12/9-12/10 Holiday Pops seattlesymphony.org 12/9 CookieFest 2017 seattlemilkfund.org 12/9 Green Lake Pathway of Lights facebook.com 12/16-12/18 The Christmas Revels and 12/20 pugetsoundrevels.org
12/17 Winter Feast & Holiday Bazaar facebook.com/MobileFoodRodeo 12/17 Tour De Lights eventbrite.com 12/21 12K’s of Christmas Run facebook.com/12ksofChristmas
(CONTINUED)
(continued from previous page)
Cleaning up—Your full dishwasher uses less water than hand-washing, so even if you need to run multiple cycles, it’s worth it! Also, make it easy for your guests and yourself by setting up stations for food scraps and compostables, plastics, paper and garbage.
NBC
LOCAL
Make memories that last generations with a new holiday tradition. Here are a few ideas to get you started: friend can bring the ingredients for their favorite cookie. Pick up some decorative tins or bags, and at the end of the day, everyone will have a nice variety of cookies in great containers ready to give to co-workers, teachers, grandparents and neighbors. • If you have children, plan a separate one-on-one date with each of them. It doesn't have to be fancy—focus on staying present and showering them with the gift of your attention and love. Choose an activity or place they like to go, and make sure they know how special they are. • Plan an afternoon or evening to volunteer at a food bank or soup kitchen near you. Encourage friends and family members to come along! • Sign up for a 5K walk/run. Don’t let the cold weather keep you inside. Bundle up and breathe in the fresh air!
vs. Eagles
5:30 PM
Lastly, when you’re storing leftovers, the refrigerator may become overfull, so be sure to check that the door closes completely. Better yet, send everyone home with leftovers.
Volume 8 | Issue 12
12/22-1/1 Model Train Festival washingtonhistory.org 12/24 Jingle Bell Run in Tacoma metroparkstacoma.org 12/31 New Year’s Fireworks at the Needle seattle-downtown.com/seattle-center 12/31 First Night Tacoma firstnighttacoma.org